This scene is one of my favourite from a brilliant adaption of Shaw's work - it is even said he thought highly of it! This has wit, fine acting and great character portrayals. This scene is where Caesar has taken control of the Light House (Mole) at Alexandria and is being attacked by the Egyptians. Cleopatra pays him a visit in a carpet. Julius Caesar is played by Claude Rains a British actor who started film life as the invisible man when middle aged. His humour is wry, his facial expressions are a joy to watch. With him is Rufio played by Basil Sydney, brusque with excellent throw away lines from Shaw. A real fave - Cecil Parker playing Britannus, a role just for him - smug and aristocratic with marvellous lines - listen out for "It isn't a British invention" as if everything of value should be! Stewart Granger (James Stewart but someone else beat him to it) plays Apollodorus the beautiful romantic lead without any romance. Then Vivien Leigh who lived like a princess in India where she was born, plays the ... Show More

This scene is one of my favourite from a brilliant adaption of Shaw's work - it is even said he thought highly of it! This has wit, fine acting and great character portrayals. This scene is where Caesar has taken control of the Light House (Mole) at Alexandria and is being attacked by the Egyptians. Cleopatra pays him a visit in a carpet. Julius Caesar is played by Claude Rains a British actor who started film life as the invisible man when middle aged. His humour is wry, his facial expressions are a joy to watch. With him is Rufio played by Basil Sydney, brusque with excellent throw away lines from Shaw. A real fave - Cecil Parker playing Britannus, a role just for him - smug and aristocratic with marvellous lines - listen out for "It isn't a British invention" as if everything of value should be! Stewart Granger (James Stewart but someone else beat him to it) plays Apollodorus the beautiful romantic lead without any romance. Then Vivien Leigh who lived like a princess in India where she was born, plays the young queen Cleopatra. I find her so good she is irritating as the spolit young monarch. All thoroughly enjoying Shaw's slick screenplay. I urge you to try and watch the whole film as part of British film one of its best times and yet its 1946! A film where all the players play their parts to the full. When you watch the film you will also see many others especially Dame Flora Robson and Ernest Thesiger. Show Less